Go, Chinchin train!
(Kyoto tram)

With "Ting-ting" Going as the Starting Signal, the First Streetcar Started to Run in 1895

Tramcar crossing the Kamogawa River (1897)

On 1 February 1895, the first streetcar left the Higashinotoin-Shiokoji intersection
for its destination about 6km south, Aburagake Street, Fushimi. With the nickname
of Chin-chin-densha or Ting-ting streetcar called after the sound of a bell rung
by a motorman as the starting signal, the streetcars run by Kyoto Electric Railway
Co. Ltd. (Kyoden) were loved by everyone.
At first, passengers could get on and off anywhere. Soon a kind of herald appeared,
which was peculiar to Kyoden. It is said that when a streetcar came to a crowded
place, a boy got off and cried, "A streetcar is coming!" to warn pedestrians
of a danger.
In 1912, a strong rival appeared to Kyoden which had increased the routes besides
the firstly operated Fushimi Line. As part of improvement efforts of its comprehensive
transportation system including widening of roads, the municipal Government began
to run Kyoto City Streetcars. Despite its endeavor to improve business management,
Kyoden was purchased by Kyoto City Streetcars after six years of competition.
All the routes of Kyoto City Streetcars, however, were abolished in 1978. Today
the Karasuma and Tozai lines of Subway, Kyoto City Buses, etc. have taken over
the role of the streetcars.